All hospitals run the potential risk of making errors with their patients, which is why medical malpractice insurance is considered a standard in the industry. But the current state of the economy has led some hospitals in the U.S. to pass on medical malpractice insurance, something that Seattle medical malpractice attorney Chris Davis says is very dangerous for patients.
A news report from the New York Times indicates that several struggling hospitals in the New York City area are either partially or completely uninsured for medical malpractice, a trend that has begun to expand to other parts of the country as well.
“Medical malpractice is essentially inevitable in today’s world,” explains Davis, founder of the Seattle-based Davis Law Group. “Medical malpractice insurance is extremely important because it allows the hospitals to compensate victims for any mistakes they make that cause injury to patients.”
Experts in the industry say that for struggling hospitals, it makes economic sense to forgo the high premiums that result in millions of dollars per year for malpractice insurance. But Davis says that business-first approach puts the safety of the public at stake.
“One of the biggest issues with it is that hospitals are not required to alert the public or their patients when they are not insured for medical malpractice,” Davis added. “And patients do not want to find out about that after the fact, so it’s important to do your research and ask as many questions as you can.”
Washington State, like New York, does not require licensed physicians or hospitals to carry liability insurance. And in a down economy, when hospital executives are sometimes forced to decide between paying for staff and medical malpractice insurance premiums, it’s only a matter of time before more hospitals follow suit.
In addition to serving as the principal attorney and founder of the Davis Law Group in Seattle, Davis is the author of the Washington Accident Books, a series of legal guides designed to inform the public about their rights and the personal injury claims process. As a service to the public, Davis is offering his book, “Washington Injury Law: A Reference Guide for Accident Victims” for free to accident victims throughout Washington State. Those interested in ordering their free copy can call 206-727-4000 or visithttp://www.WashingtonAccidentBooks.com.
About Chris Davis
Christopher M. Davis, founder of the Davis Law Group, has been a licensed attorney in the state of Washington since 1993. He has tried dozens of personal injury cases to verdict and has successfully handled and resolved hundreds of accident claims. He has been a Washington Super Lawyer' for seven years in a row for his expertise and success in litigating personal injury claims. You can learn more about the firm by visiting: http://www.DavisLawGroupSeattle.com.
Statute Of Limitations